Leveraging Wettability Engineering to Develop Three-Layer DIY Face Masks From Low-Cost Materials.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Public Health
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• The global surge in COVID-19 cases created a critical shortage of medical-grade face masks.
• There is an urgent need for accessible, effective homemade mask alternatives for the general population.
• Homemade masks must balance droplet filtration with user comfort and breathability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a simple, do-it-yourself (DIY) three-layer face mask.
• To assess the droplet-arresting capabilities of the proposed homemade mask design.
• To compare the performance of the DIY mask against commercially available surgical masks.

Main Methods:

• Constructed a three-layer face mask using readily available materials: two hydrophobic polypropylene nonwoven layers and one hydrophilic cellulosic cloth layer.
• The inner hydrophobic layer is designed for user comfort, allowing droplet absorption by the middle layer.
• The outer hydrophobic layer acts as a barrier against external droplets and liquid penetration.

Main Results:

• The DIY three-layer mask effectively arrests airborne droplet transmission.
• The mask design ensures user comfort by maintaining a dry skin-contact layer.
• Preliminary tests indicate superior droplet transmission arrest compared to standard surgical masks.

Conclusions:

• A simple DIY three-layer face mask offers a viable and effective alternative to commercial masks for public use.
• The proposed mask design demonstrates promising performance in mitigating the spread of airborne droplets.
• This approach can help alleviate the strain on essential healthcare supplies during pandemics.